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19

Red-capped Robin (Petroica goodenovii) Alternate name(s): "Redhead", "Robin Red-breast*" Aboriginal name(s): "bullawang", "choondah", "tarongo"; "awi irta" [yura ngawarla]; "wi-oombeen", "guniibuu" [yuwaalaraay]; "menekedang" (WA) Size: 11-12 cm; wing span 15-19.5 cm Weight: 7-9 g

Australia: Family Group 19 Family Group 19 Table Southern Scrub-robin Northern Scrub-robin Hooded Robin Dusky Robin Rose Robin Pink Robin Flame Robin Scarlet Robin Norfolk Robin Red-capped Robin Grey-headed Robin White-browed Robin Buff-sided Robin Mangrove Robin White-breasted Robin Western Yellow Robin Eastern Yellow Robin Pale-yellow Robin White-faced Robin Yellow-legged Flycatcher Lemon-bellied Flycatcher Jacky Winter Logrunner Chowchilla White-browed Babbler Hall's Babbler Grey-crowned Babbler Chestnut-crowned Babbler Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names Habitat pages Key plants Birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Red-capped Robins are small robins. Their plumage is dimorphic, i.e. males and females are different. Male Red-capped Robins have a prominent red patch on their forehead. The rest of the head, the throat and the back are black. The front, from the chest to the belly, is red, while the flanks, vent and undertail coverts are white. The black wings have conspicuous white bars. The grey tail has white outer shafts. The short, thin bill is dark-grey. Female Red-capped Robins have an inconspicuous reddish patch on their forehead and an off-white throat. Otherwise they are light grey-brown, with an off-white belly and vent. The wings are dark grey-brown, with white patches. The short, thin bill is grey. Juvenile Red-capped Robins are predominantly grey, with darker wings than the rest of the plumage. Except for the patch on the forehead, they resemble females. Juveniles have a highly cryptic dark brown-grey plumage on the back, with copious, lighter-brown streaking. They have a lighter brownish-grey, heavily scalloped chest. The belly and vent are whitish. Twitcher's tip Note that some young male Red-capped Robins, while still in juvenile plumage, can in fact already breed. Compared with Flame Robins and Scarlet Robins, male Red-capped Robins have and all-black head, except for a prominent red frons, and a black throat.

Taxonomy, classification See Red-capped Robin at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Red-capped Robin is available HERE . NB: Reports on ebird of birds submitted by birdwatchers from the Australian Outback tend to be clustered along roads and public areas such as camp grounds; in such cases their distribution is not a good representation of the overall distribution of the species. Red-capped Robins are endemic to Australia. They populate essentially the entire southern part of the Australian continent, up to the tropic of Capricorn, with a few exceptions. They are only rarely found in the Nullarbor, in the Lake Eyre Basin, and only rarely around Mt. Isa, QLD, and along the eastern coastal fringe North of the Hunter River valley in NSW. They do not appear South of the Great Dividing Range in VIC at all and not in Tasmania either. In the North their range extends a bit beyond the tropic of Capricorn in the central NT and in central QLD. During their breeding season Red-capped Robins can usually be found in dry forest, scrub or more open woodland. Outside the breeding season they tend to disperse into more varied habitats. They can often be seen hunting from low perches on dead branches in remnant growth on farmland, where foliage has been nibbled off by stock. Where to look? How to find this species? Red-capped Robins are usually found perched low in (often semi-arid) scrub, e.g. on low branches of pine trees or mulga, from where they dive on insects, mostly on the ground, before returning to a perch with their prey. They also often hunt from fences and fenceposts.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Our first sighting of a Red-capped Robin was in February 2006, in Jack's Creek State Forest, 30 km South of Narrabri, NSW. Since then we have seen them in various locations around Narrabri, e.g. 20 km South of Narrabri and other parts of the Pilliga scrub. At Eulah Creek, 20 km East of Narrabri, juvenile birds regularly appear at the time of dispersal (around April each year), but sometimes (in winter) adult birds appear as well. We have seen many Red-capped Robins in the semi-arid to arid areas of western NSW and eastern South Australia, most prominently in Gundabooka NP, 50 km South of Bourke, where they were found in abundance. R. Brinsley reports spotting Red-capped Robins on a private property about 85 km West of Wentworth, NSW, in October 2007. B. Kinross reports spotting a Red-capped Robin at Buntine Rocks, 230 km North of Perth, WA, in September 2013. J. Greaves reports finding Red-capped Robins at Boolardy Station, Murchison, WA, in August 2016, at Wave Rock, near Hyden, WA, in March 2017, and at Dryandra Woodlands, near Narrogin, WA, in May 2018. R. Plumtree reports spotting Red-capped Robins near Lyndhurst, SA, in October 2016, and along Parachilna Creek, SA, in September 2018. M. Eaton reports finding Red-capped Robins regularly at Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD. They were also found at Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, in June 2020. They were also found at the Eulo Bore, Eulo, QLD, in June 2022. Others were found at Lake Gilles, SA, in October 2022.

Photos

ADULT

MALE

Close-up full-frontal view of an adult male Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Frontal view of an adult male Red-capped Robin
[Near Narrabri, NSW, September 2007]

Frontal/ventral view of a male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Close-up near-frontal view of a male Red-capped Robin looking for prey on the ground
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a male Red-capped Robin looking for prey on the ground
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Close-up lateral view of a male Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Lateral view a male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, August 2018]

Lateral view a male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eulo Bore, Eulo, QLD, June 2022]

Close-up lateral view of a male Red-capped Robin looking for prey on the ground
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Lateral/ventral view of an adult male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Lateral/ventral view of an adult male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Near-dorsal view of a male Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, July 2023]

Dorsal view of a male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Lateral view of a male Red-capped Robin, still largely in juvenile plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, August 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a male Red-capped Robin, still largely in juvenile plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, August 2022]

FEMALE

Frontal view of a female Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wave Rock, near Hyden, WA, March 2017]

Frontal view of a female Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2016]

Close-up frontal shot of a female Red-capped Robin on the ground
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, June 2006]

Near-frontal view of a female Red-capped Robin
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, June 2006]

Close-up near-lateral view a female Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, August 2018]

Close-up lateral view a female Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, August 2018]

Lateral view of a female Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of V. Collins)
[Pilliga NP, NSW, May 2021]

Lateral view of a female Red-capped Robin on the ground
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, June 2006]

This female Red-capped Robin sat conveniently at eye height
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, May 2011]

Lateral view a female Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eulo Bore, Eulo, QLD, June 2022]

Near-dorsal view a female Red-capped Robin looking back at the observer (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Eulo Bore, Eulo, QLD, June 2022]

Near-dorsal view of a female Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Wave Rock, near Hyden, WA, March 2017]

Dorsal view of a female Red-capped Robin
[20 km South of Narrabri, NSW, June 2006]

Sex unknown

Twitcher's tip

Note that in the field immature male and some female Red-capped Robins are very hard to distinguish. Some of the birds shown on this page may either be "variety B" females, with a red wash on their breast, or first-year males that do not have full adult plumage yet.

In addition to that ambiguity, some female/immature Red-capped Robins can have a small spot on the forehead (frons) that resembles VERY closely that of a female Flame Robin. Both peculiarities lead to inconsistencies between illustrations in different field guides.

Close-up frontal portrait of a Red-capped Robin; this bird may be a "variety B" female or a young male moulting into adult plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]

Frontal view of a Red-capped Robin; this bird may be a "variety B" female or a young male moulting into adult plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2013]

Near-frontal view of a Red-capped Robin; this bird may be a "variety B" female or a young male moulting into adult plumage
[Maules Creek, NSW, 2012]

Lateral view of a Red-capped Robin; this bird may be a "variety B" female or a young male moulting into adult plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2014]

Lateral view of a Red-capped Robin hunting from a fencepost; this bird may be a "variety B" female or a young male moulting into adult plumage

Lateral view of a Red-capped Robin; this bird may be a "variety B" female or a young male moulting into adult plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]

Dorsal view of a Red-capped Robin; this bird may be a "variety B" female or a young male moulting into adult plumage
[Eulah Creek, NSW, March 2014]

Frontal view of a female/immature Red-capped Robin with a small frontal spot similar to that of a female Flame Robin
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a (sub-adult) male Red-capped Robin developing its red patches, but not yet the black feathers to cover the rest of the head and its back; this bird probably has too much red on it to be a "variety B" female (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Close-up frontal view of a (sub-adult) male Red-capped Robin
[Pilliga NP, NSW, March 2021]

Close-up frontal view of a (sub-adult) male Red-capped Robin, now seen preening
[Pilliga NP, NSW, March 2021]

Lateral view of a (sub-adult) male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Lateral view of a (sub-adult) male Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Kilcowera Station, between Thargomindah and Hungerford, QLD, June 2020]

Frontal view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Bowra Station, near Cunnamulla, QLD, September 2017]

Frontal view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Gundabooka NP, NSW, March 2008]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin, seen with ruffled plumage after preening
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

The same juvenile Red-capped Robin as shown above, here seen preening
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

Near-frontal view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2013]

Near-lateral view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2013]

Lateral view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Gundabooka NP, NSW, March 2008]

Different lateral view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Dorsal view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin spreading its wings
[Eulah Creek, NSW, January 2019]

Female, right, feeding a dependent juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Bowra Wildlife Sanctuary, near Cunnamulla, QLD, June 2019]

Male feeding a dependent juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Terry Hie Hie AA, NSW, September 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin
[Terry Hie Hie AA, NSW, September 2019]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Jul - Dec

Eggs: 2 - 4

Incubation period: 14 - 15 days

Fledging age: 13 - 15 days

Nest building: Female

Incubation: Female

Dependent care: Female & male

The male tends to "propose" a number of nest sites, but the female makes the final selection. The preferred tree species for nesting is the Cypress pine.

While incubating, the female relies on the male to provide her with food, which is delivered near the nest (not while she is sitting on the nest).

Nest

"bungobittah", "lar", "malunna", "jindi" [bundjalung] = nest [Aboriginal]

Type: Basket

Material: Bark fibres, grass stems, webs

Height above ground: 0.5 - 10 m

Female Red-capped Robin on its nest; this bird was seen together with a male that was still largely in juvenile plumage
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Windorah, QLD, August 2022]

Female Red-capped Robin gluing the base of its nest on to a minor fork on a branch of a Cypress pine tree with spider webs
[Bullawa Creek SCA, near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Female Red-capped Robin sitting on the base of its nest
[Bullawa Creek SCA, near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Female Red-capped Robin standing on the base of its nest
[Bullawa Creek SCA, 15 km East of Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

A week later, the Red-capped Robin nest was probably complete, but still inconspicuous
[Bullawa Creek SCA, near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Close-up view of the female Red-capped Robin that we observed building the nest shown above (although, with its yellow gape, it looks like a juvenile bird)
[Bullawa Creek SCA, near Narrabri, NSW, November 2014]

Eggs

"boyanga", "booyanga", "derinya", "dirandil", "koomura", "mirk", "ngampu", "nooluk", "pateena", "pum-pum" = Egg; "dirundirri" = eggs [Aboriginal]; "gawu" = eggs [gamilaraay]

Size: 16 x 13 mm

Colour: Off-white, with many small dark-brown speckles

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Territorial

Mobility: Dispersive

Elementary unit: Pair

We do not know why, but some robins are in the habit of spreading their wings while sitting on the ground, for no apparent reason. They do not stay like this long enough to be cooling. We have also not noticed other birds around to which they might be displaying (see photo below).

Dorsal view of a juvenile Red-capped Robin on the ground, spreading its wings in a way observed by us only in robins
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]

Food, Diet

Adults: Small insects

Dependents: As adults

Water intake: Daily

Like all other robins (all families), Red-capped Robins are flycatchers. Most robins hunt for insects from low to mid-level perches.

Male Red-capped Robin with its prey, a juicy caterpillar (photo courtesy of B. Kinross)
[Buntine Rocks, 230 km North of Perth, WA, September 2013]

Male Red-capped Robin with its prey, flying insects, possibly for feeding its chicks (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Parachilna Creek, SA, September 2018]

Female Red-capped Robin with its prey, a grasshopper
[Near Bugilbone, NSW, June 2016]

Female Red-capped Robin with its prey, a juicy caterpillar
[Pilliga NP, NSW, June 2022]

Female Red-capped Robin that has caught an insect (which looks like a grasshopper)

It is astonishing to see that a bush cockroach will fit into the bill of this young Red-capped Robin
[Eulah Creek, NSW, December 2012]

This Red-capped Robin has caught what looks like a beetle
[Gundabooka NP, NSW, September 2012]

Red-capped Robin usually hunt from low perches, but they can be found on the ground too - here a juvenile male
[Eulah Creek, NSW, April 2013]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

redcrob_20160613.m4a	(NW NSW)	Contact calls (male)	© MD
redcrob_20220917.mp3	(NW NSW)	Territorial calls? (male)	© MD
redcrob_20221226.mp3	(NW NSW)	Warning calls (juvenile)	© MD
redcrob_20190917.m4a	(NW NSW)	Begging calls (juvenile)	© MD

More Red-capped Robin sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.

Disclaimer: Comments are always welcome. We give no guarantee that the information presented on these pages is always correct or up-to-date. External links are marked as such and we take no responsibility for the contents of external pages. All images on this site are protected by copyright & used by permission of the respective owners. If you wish to reproduce them or any of the material presented on this web site, please contact us: We hereby acknowledge the original custodians of the land which is described on these pages, including the Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people of the North-west Slopes and Plains of NSW, and the traditional owners of other lands and nations within this country. We acknowledge elders past, present and emerging. Sovereignty was never ceded.          Last updated: Tue, 25 July 2023, 6:33 +00:00